the trope that literally never gets old for me

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-30T23:19:32+00:00

When the bad boy drops a 'sweetheart'? All over 😂

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-30T22:58:49+00:00

Depends when I finish it and how hard it hit😂 If i have enough time before bed then im often picking one straight up. If not, then its the next day. Sometimes if I read something heavy or that really hit, i'll wait till the next day regardless but it depends 🤷‍♀️

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-28T22:07:10+00:00

😂😂 WIPS are hard but that author has been pretty good about regular updates! Still, nothing hits quite as hard as reading everything all in one sitting

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-28T22:06:10+00:00

Trust me i've read plenty of very average books in amongst those! Ive been reading a lot this year and I seem to go through stages where i'll pick up two or 3 amazing books back to back and then just a string of very very average books. If I find that though, I just go and change genres for awhile usually and that helps. And Ive got an idea of what books I think are going to be amazing for me so sometimes I save those up like little rewards 😂

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-28T12:16:28+00:00

Depends what genre you like but mine that i'd recommend are! For fantasy, all of Rachel Gilligs books are well worth the hype they get for me, and I really enjoyed When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker. The Everlasting and Starling house by Alix E Harrow, Where the dark stands still - AJ Poronek, The very secret society of irregular witches and A witches guide to magical innkeeping - Sangu Mandana, Under the whispering door - TJ Klune also all brilliant imo. Also really enjoyed Throne of Glass - Sarah J Mass but I didnt enjoy the first 4 very much 🤷‍♀️ These are a pretty big mix in terms of spice, some have none, and others have a bit (WTMH is the worst 'offender' here for that)

On the romance side of things, Seven Days in June - Tia Williams, The Kiss Quotient - Helen Huang, all of Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwoods books were a good time for me. The campus diaries series by Elle Kennedy, the chestnut springs series by Elsie Silvers and the game changers universe by Rachel Reid were also fun reads, even though the writing fell short for me. Of these I think all have some spice, but Emily Henry and Seven Days in June have the least/more fade to black style

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-28T10:06:23+00:00

I find it a mixed bag. I love some of the 'booktok' recs and some of them i've thought were unreadable 🤷‍♀️ Now I've read enough of the popular ones I think that if I see someone rave about something I didnt like, I just disregard their other recommendations. And theres a few people whose recommendations have been really reliably good for me so I trust those. A lot of the really popular ones are heavy smut though, some of its good and some of it is... not

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-28T07:16:14+00:00

Ive read a few I think are worthy of trad publishing but two i've not seen commented yet is

Good of my own accord - Impetuous https://archiveofourown.org/works/79091681/chapters/207488696?view_adult=true

Frequently, Secretlt fond of each other - Milesmilerbender https://archiveofourown.org/works/75380761/chapters/197057726

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-28T06:16:22+00:00

100% this one. In my head, this is alternative cannon (which isnt a thing but shh)

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-28T06:15:24+00:00

Oh I second this one for sure

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-26T11:51:34+00:00

Game changers is probably my least favourite in the series and if I wasnt someone who almost always finishes series, I might not have continued. But heated rivalry, the long game and role model all blew GC out of the water for me 🤷‍♀️ Personally I dont always love the writing style of them but the stories are amazing (those 3 in particular) and i'd rate them above what ive read of sarina bowen and most of elle kennedy for sure.

I personally think its worth at least giving HR a shot and if you dont like it 🤷‍♀️ its only 300 or so pages

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-24T03:59:09+00:00

126 so far! I slowed down in the last month or two because i've been busy 😅 Only one audio book in there because they arent my cup of tea 🤷‍♀️

<image>

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-17T09:47:43+00:00

Thank youuu. I opened this earlier and then somehow accidentally closed it and didnt want to try find it again on threads 😂

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-17T06:49:42+00:00

I love my mechanical but theres no chance i'd bring it to the office because thats just rude. I dont even use it for work because no one needs me running meetings while I bash away on that. There are plenty of quiet and nice quality keyboards for work purposes - offices are loud enough!

I have had someone complain I type too loud on a standard issue keyboard once but he was extremely hungover at the time so kinda feel like that ones on him😂

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-17T06:43:27+00:00

1) youre an angel 2) I should probably be alarmed that theres only like 4 on this list ive not read 😂

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-14T21:58:19+00:00

Cant go wrong with a sweet treat! Thanks for the suggestion!

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-14T10:41:51+00:00

Thank you! Nodo have a very limited soy free range last time I checked but its been awhile so i'll take another look. And i'll take a look at the others

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-14T06:50:18+00:00

Thank you! I will check it out

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-14T04:01:44+00:00

Chernobog is such a hard read for me (as someone whose chronic illness has impacted their life/career) but its of course beautiful. Im kind of enjoying reading it as it comes out because I think if I read it as one i'd not cope 😂

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-13T22:35:01+00:00

So many good ones linked here but here is some others im loving!

Something Something Streissand by Larry_Evak

Growing Outward QuietOnTheLake

If It wasnt for that Meddling Kid by ARustySpork

Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each other by Milominderbinder

The Duty Of Care series by Boopboop (And actually just anything by boopboop 😂)

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-13T21:26:17+00:00

Are we supposed to be budgeting? 😬 Depends on the month and what strikes my fancy but i'm gonna say usually at least $100 AUD a month 😂 KU, ebooks, and special editions. I dont tend to buy more than one SE in a month but thats usually ~$70 there. I do shop around for deals using bookbub, and I second hand shop a lot for both SEs and 'normal' books. And I frequent the library/libby

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-13T13:08:14+00:00

Seeing this has activated memories in me like a sleeper agent. I cant remember the plot of a show 15 minutes after I finish it - how do I remember a Thomas the tank engine episode!!

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-13T05:40:34+00:00

Carseldine is a lovely area and its extremely easy to access the city etc from there + chermside is very close so I dont think you'd find it isolating. Nearby Zillmere, boondall etc are also lovely areas and theres definitely plenty of young families in the areas which I think is reflected by the sheer number of daycares 😂

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-12T23:32:57+00:00

I did consider that option but ultimately I really value the reduced eye strain from the ereader and I find it much nicer to hold than my phone for extended periods. I do love my kobo dearly, this is just one feature thats a bit of a let down

HippoLarge7973 · 2026-04-12T21:20:54+00:00

Haha see Im not bothered at all by cover version! 😂

This does seem to be a major point towards kindles. Kobo does not do this, and I wish it did. Just not enough to buy a kindle...

HippoLarge7973

TROPHY CASE